Unsung Animators: Honorable Mentions
Turns out 50’s too few a number to list all the Disney animators past and present that inspire me. A studio with such rich history, promising future, excellent artistry, and most of all very talented, sincere artists is very hard to narrow down to just 50 animators who make it all happen. So here I’m going to tell you some about a few of my inspirations and heroes whose work I greatly admire and encourage you all to study.
Past
Hugh Fraser- Fraser was born in Butte,Montana in 1904. He animated at Disney from Snow White all the way through Lady and the Tramp. Hugh’s work was very cartoony and has great use of caricature. I also love the speed and weight you can see in his animation. My favorite scenes of his are in the court room sequence in the Wind and the Willows. Hugh Fraser was oftentimes used in scenes supervised by Norman Ferguson and Fergy really used his talent well. Among the things Hugh worked on include Honest John and Gideon in Pinocchio, the gossipy elephants in Dumbo (including a majority of their scenes in the Pyramid of Pachyderms sequence), some stuff with the mice in Cinderella, and good stuff on the Walrus and the Carpenter inAlicein Wonderland. He later worked for Hanna Barbara and passed away in 1994.
Fraser’s Work
Snow White(1937)- Animator(uncredited)
Pinocchio(1940)-Animator on Honest John and Gideon
Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Dance of the Hours
Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Gossipy Elephants
Saludos Amigos(1942)- Animator
How to Play Baseball(1942)- Animator
Pluto at the Zoo(1942)- Animator(uncredited)
Victory Through Airpower(1943)-Animator
Victory Vehicles(1943)- Animator
How to Be a Sailor(1944)- Animator
The Eyes to Have It(1945)- Animator
Canine Casanova(1945)- Animator
No Sail(1945)- Animator
Knight for a Day(1945)- Animator
Make Mine Music(1946)-Animator on Casey at the Bat
Squatter’s Rights(1946)- Animator
Frank Duck Brings ’em Alive(1946)- Animator
Double Dribble(1946)- Animator
Fun and Fancy Free(1947)-Animator
The Big Wash(1948)- Animator
Mickey and the Seal(1948)- Animator
Pluto’s Suprise Package(1949)- Animator
Pluto’s Sweater(1949)-Animator
Bubble Bee(1949)- Animator
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)- Aniamtor on Wind and the Willows
Sheep Dog(1949)- Animator
Pluto’s Heart Throb(1950)- Animator
Pluto and the Gopher(1950)- Animator
Cinderella(1950)-Animator
Wonder Dog(1950)- Animator
Hold That Pose(1950)- Animator
Cold War(1951)- Animator
Tommorrow We Diet(1951)- Animator
Alice in Wonderland(1951)-Animator
Get Rich Quick(1951)- Animator
No Smoking(1951)- Animator
Man’s Best Friend(1952)- Animator
Two Gun Goofy(1952)- Animator
How to Be a Detective(1952)- Animator
Two Weeks Vacation(1952)- Animator
Peter Pan(1953)- Animator
Father’s Day Off(1953)- Animator
Father’s Week-end(1953)- Animator
Ben and Me(1953)- Animator
Lady and the Tramp(1955)-Animator
Don Lusk- One of the few old guys still with us today. I’m a nut for the bold, strong draftsmanship and understanding of movement that Lusk put in his work. Some of his greatest accomplishments include Cleo in Pinocchio, the Arabian Fish Dance in Fantasia, and some of the best scenes with the Stag in Bambi. He stayed at Disney until One Hundred and One Dalmatians. He is currently alive and is 97 years old.
Lusk’s Work
Pinocchio(1940)- Animator on Cleo
Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Nutcracker Suite
Bambi(1942)- Animator
How to Fish(1942)- Animator
Song of the South(1946)- Animator on Minor Characters
Melody Time(1948)- Animator on Johnny Appleseed
Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)- Animator on Wind and the Willows
Cinderella(1950)- Animator
Alice in Wonderland(1951)- Animator
Lambert the Sheepish Lion(1952)- Animator
Trick or Treat(1952)- Animator
Peter Pan(1953)- Animator
Ben and Me(1953)- Animator
Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator
Sleeping Beauty(1959)- Animator
Dalmatians(1961)- Animator
Jack Campbell- One of the first masters of the human figure at Disney and a key animator on Snow White as well as the Blue Fairy. True he did use a little too much rotoscope sometimes but at least he drew the anatomy properly and made the animation believable. Some of his later accomplishments include Mr. Blue Bird in Song of the South and Aunt Sarah in Lady and the Tramp.
Snow White(1937)- Animator on Snow White
Brave Little Tailor(1938)- Animator
Ferdinand and the Bull(1938)- Animator
Mother Goose Goes to Hollywood(1939)- Animator
Pinocchio(1940)-Animator on Blue Fairy
Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Pastoral Role
Reluctant Dragon(1941)- Animator
Dumbo(1941)- Animator
Symphony Hour(1942)- Animator
Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator
Song of the South(1946)- Animator on Mr. Blue Bird
Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator on Aunt Sarah
Bob Stokes- Master at life drawing and at a time the teacher at Chouinard Institute. He was a key animator on Snow White as well as a key animator on Gepetto (his best work in my opinion.) He also worked on the Nutcracker Suite before leaving Disney in the early 1940s.
Stoke’s Work
Old Mill(1937)- Animator
Snow White(1937)- Animator on Snow White
Mother Goose Goes to Hollywoood(1939)
Pinocchio(1940)- Animator on Geppetto
Fantasia(1940)- Aniamtor on Nutcracker Suite
Bernie Wolf- Bernie Wolf was born in 1911 and started in the business inking Krazy Kat cartoons in New Yorkat the age of 13. Soon after he began working at Fleischer’s on silent cartoons before sound came in and Wolf quickly became a Betty Boop specialist. Probably his greatest scene at Fleischer’s is the mysterious-little creepy walrus dancing in Minnie the Moocher. In 1933 Bernie joined the gold rush and went out west to animate at the Iwerks studio. By 1938 he was at Disney butNew Yorkanimators were no longer thought of kindly at the studio and were harshly criticized. However Wolf overcame this and did brilliant animation on Jiminy Cricket in Pinocchio. He did some great scenes including Jiminy meeting the Blue Fairy, Jiminy dancing in the music box, and the one of him riding the seahorse. All these scenes were challenging and showcased great personality animation. Bernie Wolf then went on to animate in the Pastoral Role in Fantasia(including the scene of the centaurs and centaurettes dancing around Bacchus as well as the Centaur shielding the Centaurette from the storm) and some of the clowns in Dumbo (he did strong, clear poses on the clowns shadows when they’re bragging.) Unfortunately he went out on Strike and never came back. Wolf did however have a career after Disney including work at MGM, at independent studios, and at Hanna-Barbara. He died in 2006.
Wolf’s Work
Donald’s Nephews(1938)- Animator
Goofy and Wilbur(1939)- Animator
Pinocchio(1940)- Animator on Jiminy Cricket
Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Pastoral Role
Reluctant Dragon(1941)- Animator
Golden Eggs(1941)- Animator
Gentleman’s Gentleman(1941)- Animator
Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Clowns
Mickey’s Birthday Party(1942)- Animator
Symphony Hour(1942)- Animator
Olympic Champ(1942)- Animator
Walt Kelly- An animator in the late 30s and early 40s who went on to draw the Pogo comic strip. He was very close friends with Fred Moore and best friends with Ward Kimball, both men he socialized and played around with a lot. Kelly animated scenes with Gepetto inside Monstro fishing in Pinocchio, scenes with the fauns in Fantasia, great animation with the boy in the Reluctant Dragon, and lots of scenes in Dumbo( he animated Mrs. Jumbo in anger, many scenes with the Ring Master, and helped out Kimball some on the crows.)
Kelly’s Work
Pinocchio(1940)- Animator on Geppetto
Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Fawns in Pastoral Role
Reluctant Dragon(1941)- Animator on Reluctant Dragon and Boy
Little Whirlwind(1941)- Animator
Niftey Ninties(1941)- Animator
Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Ring Master, Mrs. Jumbo, and Crows
Milt Neil- Nearly forgotten animator who animated lots of great stuff with Timothy in Dumbo (including the scene where he speaks to the Ringmaster in his sleep) and the excellent scenes with the llama in Saludos Amigos. He began at Disney in 1935 and left in 1944. Neil moved east and became involved with Howdy Doody. Milt taught animation for many years before passing away in 1997.
Neils’ Work
Ugly Duckling(1939)- Animator
Pinocchio(1940)- Animtor
Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Pastoral Role
Reluctant Dragon(1941)- Animator
Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Timouthy
Der Fuehrer’s Face(1942)- Animator
Saludos Amigos(1942)- Animator on Donald Duck and Llama
How to Play Baseball(1942)- Animator
Fall Out- Fall In(1943)- Animator
Three Caballeros(1944)- Animator
Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator (uncredited)
Ken O’Brien- Another forgotten animator who did some great stuff including some of the best scenes with Bambi and his mother, the brilliant Princess Tiger Lilly dance in Peter Pan, and Aurora and Phillip’s dance at the end of Sleeping Beauty(which also was the dance used for Belle and the Beast as well for all fellow Disney geeks.)
O’Brien’s Work
Pinocchio(1940)- Animator(uncredited)
Bambi(1942)- Animator on Bambi and Mother
Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator
Song of the South(1946)- Animator on Minor Characters
Fun and Fancy Free(1947)- Animator
Melody Time(1948)- Animator on Pecas Bill
Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)- Animator
Cinderella(1950)- Animator
Peter Pan(1953)- Animator on Peter Pan and Tigerlilly
Donald’s Diary(1954)
Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator
Sleeping Beauty(1959)- Animator on Aurora and Phillip
Jerry Hathcock- A wild, cartoony animator who most notably did a lot of the scenes of the crocodile in Peter Pan as well as some business with the pound dogs in Lady and the Tramp and the fairies in Sleeping Beauty.
Hathcock’s Work
Rover’s Rival(1937)- Animator
Pluto’s Playmate(1941)- Animator
Dog Watch(1945)- Animator
Pluto’s Kid Brother(1946)- Animator
Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator (uncredited)
In Dutch(1946)-Animator
Purloined Pup(1946)- Animator
Pluto’s Housewarming(1947)- Animator
Rescue Dog(1947)- Animator
Mickey’s Delayed Date(1947)- Animator
Mail Dog(1947)- Animator
Pluto’s Blue Note (1947)- Animator
Mickey Down Under (1948)- Animator
Bone Bandit(1948)- Animator
Cat Nap Pluto(1948)- Animator
Cinderella(1950)- Animator (uncredited)
Morris the Midnight Moose(1950)- Animator
Peter Pan(1953)- Animator on Crocodile
Ben and Me(1953)- Animator
How to Sleep(1953)- Animator
Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator on Pound dogs
How to Have an Accident at Home(1956)- Animator
Paul Bunyan(1959)- Animator
Donald in Mathmatic Land(1959)- Animator
Sleeping Beauty(1959)- Animator on Fairies(uncredited)
How to Have An Accident At Work(1959)- Animator
Harvey Toombs- An unsung animator who’s also the father of imaginer Kim Irvine. He did almost all of the scenes of Lady Tremaine in Cinderella Frank Thomas didn’t do.
Toomb’s Work
Pinocchio(1940)- Animator (uncredited)
Fantasia(1940)- Animator on Dance of the Hours
Dumbo(1941)- Animator on Gossipy Elephants
Bambi(1942)- Animator (uncredited)
Saludos Amigos(1942)- Animator (uncredited)
Victory Through Airpower(1943)- Animator
Home Defense(1943)- Animator
Donald’s Day Off(1944)- Animator
Three Caballeros(1944)- Animator on Cold- Blooded Penguin
Donald’s Crime(1945)- Animator
Make Mine Music(1946)- Animator
Song of the South(1946)- Animator on Minor Characters
Fun and Fancy Free(1947)- Animator
Melody Time(1948)- Animator on Johnny Applesead and Once Upon a Wintertime
Ichabod and Mr. Toad(1949)- Animator on Sleeping Hollow
Cinderella(1950)- Animator on Stepmother
Tommorrow We Diet(1951)- Animator
Alice in Wonderland(1951)- Animator
Peter Pan(1953)- Animator
Melody(1953)-Animator
Ben and Me(1953)- Animator
Lady and the Tramp(1955)- Animator
Sleeping Beauty(1959)- Animator
Donald in Mathematic Land(1959)- Animator
How to Have an Accident at Work(1959)- Animator
Present
Hendel Butoy- Born in Brazil Hendel Butoy moved toSouthern Californiaat a young age. He then went on to be a standout talent in the third class in the character animation program at Calarts. In 1979 Butoy went on to Disney where he began his career as an animator on the Fox and the Hound. Hendel animated on the Black Cauldron before becoming a supervising animator on Basil and Oliver and Co. After that he directed the Rescuers Down Under and then two segments in Fantasia which he also supervised the animation (Pines of Rome and Piano Concert No. 2.) In 1999 Hendel Butoy left Disney and now is a faculty member at a Christian school inTennessee. What I find so inspiration about him is his great technical skills and devotion to his work. Butoy once wrote: “Think about how each shot fits into the big picture. I try to put myself into the character’s situation and cull from my own experiences. If you don’t have the experience, I do research or read and learn about it. I don’t try to make anything personal; I just try to keep it true to the situation.” He is also an avid thumbnailer and is influenced largely by Hayao Miyazaki as well as Heinrich Kley.
Butoy’s Work
Fox and the Hound(1981)- Animator
Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator
Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Supervising Animator on Dr. Dawson
Oliver and Co.(1988)- Supervising Animator on Oliver, Rita, and Tito
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Director
Fantasia 2000(1999)- Supervising Animation Director and Director on Pines of Rome and Piano Concerto No. 2
Matthew O’Callaghan- Very talented animator best known for supervising Eric in the Little Mermaid as well as the Chef in the same film. He also animated the climax of the Great Mouse Detective (which I still personally prefer to call Basil on Baker’s Street.) O’Callaghan is a master at making his animation lively and cartoony. He is now directing shorts at Warner Brothers animation.
O’Callaghan’s Work
Mickey’s Christmas Carol(1983)- Assistant Animator(uncredited), Creative Talent
Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Lead Animator on Bat and Climax, Story
Sports Goofy(1986)- Animation Director and Director
Roger Rabbit(1988)- Animator
Little Mermaid(1989)- Supervising Animator on Eric, Louis the Chef, and Ursula in Climax
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Experimental Animation (uncredited)
Dave Cutler- Great draftsman and very bold animator whose best work was animating Joanna in the Rescuers Down Under. He also animated some scenes with Ursula in the Little Mermaid.
Cutler’s Work
Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator
Littler Mermaid(1989)- Animator on Ursula
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Supervising Animator on Joanna
Fantasia 2000(1999)- Conceptional Storyboard Artist
Home on the Range(2004)- Production Designer
Barry Temple-Agreat animator whose career began back in the 1970s before training under Eric Larson at Disney in the 1980s. He supervised Flounder in Mermaid alongside Dave Pruiksma before moving to theFloridastudio in 1989. Some of his animation there included scenes with Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, scenes with the Sultan in Aladdin, scenes with Zazu in the Lion King, and supervising the cricket in Mulan. After the Florida Studio closed Temple remained in the Orlando area where he currently works as an instructor at Full Sail.
Temple’s Work
Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator
Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Animator
Sports Goofy(1986)- Supervising Animator
Roger Rabbit(1988)- Additional Animator
Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator
Little Mermaid(1989)- lead animator on Flounder
Roller Coaster Rabbit(1990)- Animator
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Lumiere
Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Sultan
Trail Mix-Up(1993)- Animator
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Zazu
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Ben and Loin
Mulan(1989)- Supervising Animator on Crickee
John Henry(2000)- Animator(uncredited)
Atlantis(2001)- Additonal Animator
Lilo and Stitch(2002)- Animator on Pleaky and David
Home on the Range(2004)- Animator on Mrs. Calloway
Ron Husband- Notable for being the first African American supervising animator in Disney history when he supervised the goat in the Hunchback of Notre Dame. He began at Disney in the 1970s and also supervised the elk in Fantasia as well as Dr. Sweet in Atlantis. He has since worked as an imaginer.
Husband’s Work
Small One(1978)- Animator
Fox and the Hound(1981)- Animator
Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator
Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Animator
Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator
Little Mermaid(1989)- Animator
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Gaston
Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Jafar
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Pumbaa
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on John Smith
Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- supervising animator on Djali
Hercules(1997)- lead animator on Cyclops and Titans
Fantasia 2000(1999)- Supervising Animator on Elk and Animator on Piano Concerto No. 2
Atlantis(2001)- Supervising Animator on Dr. Sweet
Treasure Planet(2002)- Animator on John Silver
Shawn Keller- A very wild animator who was known for doing wacky, zany pranks at the studio. I still can’t get over the story of him dressing up in a gorilla suit and interrupting a live show. I hear Peter Schneider wasn’t too happy but that everything was okay because Michael Eisner laughed. Another Shawn classic story is him being thrown out of the Oliver and Co. wrap up party because he was wearing a much better Dodger costume than the one they had. Keller started at Disney at the young age of 17(only a year senior from my current age.) Some of his work includes the eels in Little Mermaid, the dog in Mulan, Cookie in Atlantis, and the rabbit in Home on the Range.
Keller’s Work
Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator
Great Mouse Detective(1986)- Animator
Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator
Little Mermaid(1989)- Lead Animator on Eels
Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Quasimodo, visual development artist and character designer
Mulan(1998)- Lead Animator on Little Brother
Atlantis(2001)- Supervising Animator on Preston Whitmore and Cookie
Treasure Planet(2002)- Animator on Jim Hawkins
Home on the Range(2004)- Lead Animator on Lucky Jack
Byron Howard- A great animator and a top man in the later days of the Florida Studio. His work includes animating under Aaron Blaise onYaoand the Ancestors in Mulan, supervising and designing Cobra Bubbles in Lilo and Stitch, and supervising Kenai in Brother Bear. Since then he has been a director on Bolt and Tangled.
Howard’s Work
Pocahontas(1995)- Inbetweener on Pocahontas
Mulan(1998)- Animator on Yao and the Ancestors
Lilo and Stitch(2002)- Supervising Animator on Cobra Bubbles, Character Designer
Brother Bear(2003)- Supervising Animator on Kenai
Chicken little(2005)- Additonal Story Artist
Bolt(2008)- Director, Additional Screenplay Material
Tangled(2010)- Director
Dave Burgess- A real underrated animator with a great cartoony, round style. He first made noise by animating some of the best scenes of the Genie in Aladdin (including the cookbook sequence and quite a bit of the character in Prince Ali) and supervising alongside Alex Kupershmidt on the Hyenas in the Lion King. He then went on to supervise Archdeacon in Hunchback and Porter in Tarzan. Currently Burgess is a supervising animator at DreamWorks, where he has been a mainstay for several years.
Burgess’s Work
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Gaston
Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Genie
Lion King(1994)- Supervising Animator on Hyenas
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Grandmother Willow
Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Supervising Animator on Archdeacon
Tarzan(1999)- Supervising Animator on Porter
Atlantis(2001)- Animator on Milo
One by One(2004)- Animator
Chris Wahl- A very good animator who makes the most appealing, round cartoony drawings. After animating under Ruben Aquino on Ursula he supervised Lefou in Beauty and the Beast as well as the palace guards in Aladdin and some gorillas in Tarzan.
Wahl’s Work
Oliver and Co(1988)- Breakdown Artist and Inbetweener
Little Mermaid(1989)- Animator on Ursula
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Supervising Animator on Lefou
Aladdin(1992)- Lead Animator on Guards
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Mufasa and Young Simba
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Thomas
Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Frollo
Tarzan(1999)- Supervising Animator on Flynt and Mungo
Atlantis(2001)- Animator on Rourke
Bolt(2008)- Animator
Chris Buck- An underrated animator who can’t seem to ever be able to make an unappealing drawing. He supervised Grandmother Willow, Percy, and Wiggins in Pocahontas as well as Maggie in Home on the Range and Abby Mallard in Chicken Little. Buck was a director on Tarzan and is now directing an upcoming project at Disney.
Buck’s Work
Fox and the Hound(1981)- Animator
Fun with Mr. Future(1982)- Animator
Black Cauldron(1985)- Animator (uncredited)
Roger Rabbit(1988)- Experimental Animation(uncredited)
Oliver and Co.(1988)- Animator
Little Mermaid(1989)- Character Designer
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Experimental Animation (uncredited), Character Designer and Visual Development
Pocahontas(1995)- Supervising Animator on Grandmother Willow, Percy, and Wiggins, Story, Visual Development & Character Designer
Tarzan(1999)- Director
Home on the Range(2004)- Supervising Animator on Maggie
Chicken Little(2005)- Animator on Abby Mallard
Broose Johnson- A very sincere, intuitive animator who’s very underrated and talented. He really is a great method actor in animation and really understands his characters. Among Johnson’s accomplishments include animating scenes with the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, scenes with the Genie in Aladdin, the otters in Pocahontas, supervising Chien-Po and Ling in Mulan, and supervising Tuke in Brother Bear.
Johnson’s Work
Oliver and Co(1988)- Animating Assistant
Cranium Command(1989)- Inbetweener
Little Mermaid(1989)- Assistant Animator
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator on Joanna
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Beast
Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Genie
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Young Simba
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Percy and Lead Animator on Otters; Additional Story Material
Mulan(1998)- Supervising Animator on Chien-Po and Ling
John Henry(2000)- Story Supervisor
Brother Bear(2003)- Supervising Animator on Tuke; Story
Mike Cedeno- An unsung animator with the draftsmanship as good as Glen Keane and Tony Fucile. The man can draw and animate anything! Among his accomplishments include supervising Kocoum in Pocahontas and the Atlantean King in Atlantis. Cedeno also did some solid scenes with Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Simba in the Lion King, Phoebus in Hunchback, and Young Hercules in Hercules.
Cedeno’s Work
Fox and the Hound(1981)- Animator
Oliver and Company(1988)-Story, Computer Animator
Little Mermaid(1989)- Animator
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator
Prince and the Pauper(1990)- Animator
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Belle, Visual Development
Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Aladdin
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Adult Simba
Pocahontas(1995)- Supervising Animator on Kocoum
Runaway Brain(1995)- Additional Animator
Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Phoebus
Hercules(1997)- Animator on Young and Baby Hercules
Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator
Atlantis(2001)- Supervising Aniamtor on Atlantian King, Character Designer, and Visual Development
Treasure Planet(2002)- Animator on Jim Hawkins
Brother Bear(2003)- Additional Clean-up Artist
Mike Show- An animator who’s a master at making the character perform and has great creativity. He supervised the Muses in Hercules an also animated solid scenes with Abu in Aladdin and Timon in the Lion King. I love Mike’s great performance skills in animation and the great personality he puts into his animation.
Show’s Work
Oliver and Co(1988)- Breakdown Artist and Inbetweener
Little Mermaid(1989)- Assistant Animator
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animating Assistant
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animator on Cogsworth
Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Abu
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Timon
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Pocahontas
Hercules(1997)- Supervising Animator on Muses
Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator
Fantasia 2000(1999)- Animator on Rhapsody and Blue
Emperor’s New Groove(2000)- Animator on Nina(uncredited)
Treasure Planet(2002)- Supervising Animator on Morph
Home on the Range(2004)- Animator on Mrs. Calloway
Chicken Little(2005)- Animator
Meet the Robinsons(2007)- Animator
Bolt(2008)- Animator
Princess and the Frog(2009)- Animator on Ray and lead animator on butterflys and swooning girls
Brian Ferguson- An underrated animator who’s been at Disney for 20 years and is animating there still. He’s most well known for supervising Panic in Hercules. He also animated the mouse and Timon in the Lion King, Iago in Aladdin, the Matchmaker in Mulan,Chacoand Bucky in Fantasia 2000, and Onus in Treasure Planet.Fergusonis Canadian and studied animation at the Sheridan Institute. I am a nut for his comic timing and great rhythm in his animation.
Ferguson’s Work
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Animating Assistant
Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Iago
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Timon and Mouse
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Meeko
Hercules(1997)- Supervising Animator on Panic
Mulan(1998)-Lead Animator on Matchmaker
Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator
Fantasia 2000(1999)- Animator on Rhapsody and Blue
Emperor’s New Groove(2000)- Lead Animator on Chaco and Bucky
Treasure Planet(2002)- Supervising Animator on Onus
Home on the Range(2004)- Animator on Rico, Willies, and Horses
Chicken Little(2005)- Animator
Meet the Robinsons(2007)- Supervising Animaor
Bolt(2008)- Animator
Princess and the Frog(2009)- Animator on Ray and Supervising Animator on Ray’s Family
Winnie the Pooh(2011)- Animator
James Lopez- A great animator who also currently works at Disney. He was the supervisor of Pain in Hercules and animated one of my favorite scenes in the Lion King, the end of Can You Feel the Love Tonight where Pumbaa and Timon have elephant tears.
Lopez’s Work
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Timon and Pumbaa
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Wiggins
Runaway Brain(1995)- Additional Animator
Hercules(1997)- Supervising Animator on Pain
Emperor’s New Groove(2000)- Lead Animator on Tipo
Home on the Range(2004)- Lead Animator on Farm Animals
Chicken Little(2008)- Animator
Princess and the Frog(2009)- Animator on Dr. Facille and Lead Animator on Tap Dancing Kid
Winnie the Pooh(2011)- Animator
Richard Bazley- A great British animator who has great sincerity and expressions in his work. He did a lot of the best stuff of John Smith in Pocahontas and animated Hercules’s foster parents in Hercules.
Bazley’s Work
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on John Smith
Hercules(1997)- Supervising Animator on Amphitryon and Alceme
Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator
Larry White- A very dedicated animator who has spent time as a teacher in animation. His biggest scene at Disney is the immense amount of animals seen at the end of Prince Ali. White had to draw all those lions, bears, and other animals- hard work! He also has done a lot of work in visual effects animation.
White’s Work
Black Cauldron(1985)- Assistant Animator
Rescuers Down Under(1990)- Animator
Beauty and the Beast(1991)- Lead Animator on Wolves
Aladdin(1992)- Animator on Sultan and Lead Animator on Prince Ali Animals excluding Abu in Elephant form
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Hyenas
Pocahontas(1995)- Animator on Percy
Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Gargoyles
Dinosaur(2000)- Supevising Animator
Atlantis(2001)- Animator on Milo
Treasure Planet(2002)- Animator on Silver’s Crew
Andreas Wessel-Therhorn- A great animator with an excellent sense of timing. Among the projects he’s worked on include Hercules in Hercules, Kala in Tarzan, the coffee sequence in the Rhapsody in Blue, Kuzco in Emperor’s New Groove, and Mama Oldie in Princess and the Frog. Andreas is fromGermanyand is now animating freelance in Los Angeles.
Wessel-Therhorn’s Work
Hercules(1997)- Animator on Adult Hercules
Tarzan(1999)- Animator on Kala
Fantasia 2000(1999)- Animator on Rhapsody and Blue
Emperor’s New Groove(2000)- Animator on Kuzco
Home on the Range(2004)- Animator on Mrs. Calloway
Princess and the Frog(2009)- Animator on Mother Odie and Juju
T. Dan Hofstedt- An unsung animator who is a master caricaturist. At every studio he’s worked at he’s been the one you ask for a caricature. Among his work is Gazeem and Prince Achmed in Aladdin, young Simba in the Lion King, the Gargoyles in Hunchback, supervising The Emperor in Mulan, supervising the Captain and Thugs in Tarzan, supervising Mr. Arrow in Treasure Planet, and supervising the Jazz Band, Voodoo Masks, and Voodoo Dolls in the Princess and the Frog. T. Dan has also worked for Sullivan/Bluth and co-supervised animation on Monster House. He is now working at Reel FX Entertainment.
Hofstedt’s Work
Aladdin(2002)- Lead Animator on Gazeem and Prince Achmed & Additonal Animator(uncredited) on Aladdin
Lion King(1994)- Animator on Young Simba
Pocahontas(1995)- Supervising Animator on Ben and Lon & Animator(uncredited) on Governer Ratcliffe
Hunchback of Notre Dame(1996)- Animator on Gargoyles
Mulan(1998)- Supervising Animator on Emperor
Tarzan(1999)- Supervising Animator on Captain and Thugs
Treasure Planet(2002)- Supervising Animator on Mr. Arrow
Princess and the Frog(2009)- Lead Animator on Voddoo Masks, Jazz Band, Voddoo Dolls,and Mob Shadows
Sandro Cleuzo- A very talented animator and artist from Brazil who began working in animation at age 15. He started at Bluth before coming to Disney in the late 1990s. Cleuzo was a supervising animator on the Emperor’s New Groove and Home on the Range before leaving the studio for 4 years to work on freelance. Sandro then returned to work on the Princess and the Frog most notably on the Almost There sequence before leaving the studio again. He now is currently back in Brazil.
Cleuzo’s Work
Tarzan(1999)- Additional Animator
Fantasia 2000(1999)- Animator on Piano Concerto No. 2 and Firebird Suite
Empero’s New Groove(2000)- Lead Animator on Theme Song Guy, Waitress, Old Man, Official, and Maidens
Home on the Range(2004)- Supervising Animator on Jebb and Sheriff
Enchanted(2007)- Animator
Princess and the Frog(2009)-Animator on Prince Naveen and Tiana’s Fantasy & Lead Animator on the Finne Brothers
July 5, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Actually, Art Babbitt animated the Russian dance in “The Nutcracker Suite” – Don Lusk animated the Arabian Fish Dance earlier.
March 19, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Only wanna remark on few general things, The website design is perfect, the written content is really wonderful :D.
August 21, 2012 at 1:23 am
A shame there’s no mention of Phil Young. He was with them for 20 years animating lots of the great characters. Nice list though. Thank you…